Mockingbird eating suet? (1 Viewer)

[Joyous01]

Hi Everyone,
I just scanned the Food and Feeders forum and I saw that one person had a mockingbird watching over the feeder area and acting territorial, but they didn't say whether or not the mock was feeding.

So I'm starting a new thread. For the past week here on Long Island (NY, USA) I've had a mockingbird eating at my suet feeder, which makes me quite concerned, as I've never seen, nor have either I or my "birdy" friends ever heard of mockingbirds doing this, here on LI. Does anyone else have this going on in their yard? Anywhere? I've been in this home 18 years and I've lived in the area all of my life and never once have I seen a mocker eat at a suet feeder.

We've had an exceptional amount of snow this winter. It's possible that the winter berry bushes are wiped out -although my barberry still has quite a few, it's a non-native plant, so the locals might not know it's edible - because the usual seed-eaters have switched food sources. The ground has been covered with at minimum 12" snow since back at Christmastime. Right now there's still 18" of snow cover. If food sources have become too difficult to find, I'm worried about winter bird populations crashing due to lack of food. My feeders are exceptionally crowded this year. I thought it was just because populations are on the rise, but if a mock is at the suet, it may mean the opposite.

My next stop is Cornell Lab of Orn, to see what they know, and I'm waiting for a friend who heads the local Audubon chapter to get back to me. If anyone else has feedback, please let me know. Thanx.---Joyous

 

[KC Foggin]

All the time and most especially during the cold winter months and during breeding season.

 

[Joyous01]

Thank goodness! I feel much better now.

 

[Marmot]

If you check this site out
http://www.all-birds.com/Mockingbird.htm

Might be worthwhile as well puting some raisins out as well, as they are fruit and they are high energy as well which helps them in cold weather.

 

[Joyous01]

Hi Marmot,

I will definitely put raisins out for them...just as soon as I can devise a way to keep the squirrels off of the raisins! My suet Which I do put both fruit and nuts in) is covered by a squirrel-guard, which the squirrels can sometimes get past because my feeders are attached to a triple hook pole. There's a couple of squirrels smart enough to climb the pole and pull the "umbrella" close enough to get a paw-hold on the suet feeder. Most of the time they wind up falling, but occasionally I find one of the little nuisances hanging on the feeder with one forepaw, eating my suet, while the rest of him dangles in the air. I much prefer my "Yankee Flipper" feeder...at least I get a show! It spins them around until they fall to the ground, where there are plenty of seeds for everyone. Squirrels are such greedy little buggers!